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The Chronicle
is
Published by
First Presbyterian Church 49 South Portage Street Westfield, New York
MAY 2016 |
Church Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Office: (716) 326-2643 Fax: (716) 793-6019
Website:
E-Mail:
Pastor Dana A. Vaughn
Administrative Assistant Polly M Knopp
Custodian Brenda McCutcheon Deacon of the Month MAY 2016 Barb Sanders |
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Mother Prayer
~ By Joanna Fuchs ~
Dear Lord,
today we pray for mothers ~
our own mothers, and mothers everywhere,
who have made such a major contribution
to the good qualities we have,
sometimes through genetics,
more often through great effort and patient instruction,
and who have done their best
to gently polish away our rough edges,
Lord, please bless our mothers
for the endless hours of time they spent
and the boundless energy they invested in us.
Bless our mothers for their sacrifices on our behalf
as they often gave up or deferred their own dreams
so that we could have ours.
Bless our mothers for always being there for us,
for being the person we know we can turn to
when we need comfort, encouragement, or just a hug.
Bless our mothers for making a home for us
where we could feel safe, where we felt we belonged.
Most of all, Lord,
bless our mothers for there unconditional love,
for loving us no matter what,
and for frequently showing love
in ways that make us feel valued and cherished.
Lord, please bless our mothers mightily.
Strengthen them, soothe them,
wrap them in Your infinite love
and shower them with blessings
too numerous to count, too magnificent to describe.
We love them, admire them, respect them,
and we wish that You would give them back
many times the good they gave to us.
In Jesus' name we pray; Amen.
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Dear Friends,
Below is a sermon I shared with you all on September 13 of 2015. I read it again the other day and wanted to share it with you all again. I found it to be a nice reminder of how our words have power, how they can either build up or tear down.
The sermon was inspired by James 3: 1 - 12 and is titled, "Taming The Tongue."
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. How many of you have heard that saying before?
This was a common phrase I heard throughout my elementary and middle school years as kids tried to deflect the teasing and taunting that would occur in the classroom and on the play ground.
It wasn’t till I was an adult that I realized this phrase wasn’t true at all. Words can hurt...they can cut like a knife and pierce like a sword.
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During our outdoor worship service on Pentecost I discussed the effects our words can have on folks...how our words have the power to build up...or they have the power to tear down and destroy.
During that service I mentioned the Losada ratio which was developed by a man named, Marcial Losada who studied the power and impact our words have.
His research determined that for every negative comment we make it takes three positive comments to undo the negative effects of that one statement. Other studies indicate that the ratio is 5 to 1...and in some cases it takes 7 positive comments to undo the effects of just one negative remark.
Our words have power...and can have long lasting effects on people. Or to paraphrase our passage from James this morning: The tongue is a restless evil...full of deadly poison. James compared it to a flame of fire...that can contaminate our entire lives and set fire to the entire forest.
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I heard an old Scottish tale once. The story is about a woman who lived in a highland village in Scotland.
The story goes like this...The woman passed along a story about a man that she did not like. She of course thought the story was true.
When the story got around the village, it utterly destroyed the man. His family, his job and his integrity were all devastated by the rumor mill. He finally had to leave town - a ruined and defeated man.
As you might have guessed, the woman who passed the story along discovered that the rumor was false. What she had done was help to destroy an innocent man with her tongue.
So the woman went to her pastor, who was named Dominie... and she said, "Dominie, I have destroyed a man with my words" and she told her pastor the whole story.
"Please Dominie," she said, "I am sorry -- can I be forgiven of this sin?"
The pastor told the woman that this was not so simple..... and told her to take a bag of feathers and place one in the front yard of every house in the village.
Although the woman thought this to be a strange request for a pastor to make, she really wanted forgiveness, so she followed the instructions.
At last she came back to the pastor and said, "Dominie, I have done all that you asked, may I now be forgiven?"
"Not yet," the pastor replied, "You must first retrace your steps and bring back to me every feather you placed in the village!"
"But, Dominie -- I could never do that, the wind has carried the feathers away!"
"Yes," the pastor said, "And in like manner...the same thing has happened with your careless words"
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Now I know we live in a small town that is completely free from gossip...so we don’t really have to worry about these types of situations.
But imagine if we did live in a small village where gossip did occur and the rumor mill was always running...imagine how much damage our tongues could cause others.
As James pointed out in our passage this morning...our words have the power to set fire to the entire forest...our words can easily spread like feathers in the wind.
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In our New Testament passage, James also talked about how We will all make mistakes and often. James was speaking openly and candidly about how we will all fall short at times...pointing out...that as humans...we are going to make mistakes throughout our lives.
And sometimes those mistakes might be similar to what the woman did in that old Scottish tale. Hard as we might try....sometimes it is difficult to not repeat gossip we have heard on the street..... or to not speak negatively about someone who we feel has wronged us.
But as our passage from Isaiah pointed out this morning...The tongue of the teacher is to offer a word to the weary.
And we are all teachers...a teacher is not just the person who is standing behind the lectern, the pulpit or teaching Sunday school. We are all teachers of the gospel.
As teachers...Our words ought to be healing words.... they ought to bring grace and peace. They should build up and not tear down...heal rather than kill...encourage rather than discourage.
And when they do...that is when we can truly join the Psalmist in praying, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord”.
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Our words have power...the human words can burn like a raging forest fire...incinerating everything that they touch...or they can be pleasing and acceptable.
There is One other thing our words have the power to do..... and that is... that they have the power to reveal the inner character of the person who is peaking.
I’ll explain this a little further...
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All day long as we go about our days...our minds are constantly working. We are constantly thinking about something.
We may be thinking about the task at hand, we may be thinking about something that has happened in the past, or we may be daydreaming about what is yet to come.
So when we speak the inner dialogue that we have been having in our mind...flows out.
The things we choose to talk about reveals what we spend our time thinking about. The way we talk...the words we choose to use...reveals the workings of our inner mind.
So everything we say to one another and about one another...reveals more about us than the person we are speaking to or about.
Our speech reveals the character of our inner identity. Which is why Jesus says, “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
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I read a quote many years ago during my days as a professional counselor which stated:
Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.
Our words, our actions, our habits, our character, and ultimately...our destiny...can all be traced back to our thoughts!
The things that we are silently saying and thinking about ourselves in our minds...and they things that we are silently saying and thinking about others in our minds.....forms our words...and each time we open our mouths and speak...those inner thoughts come out...and the character of our inner identity is revealed.
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There is a funny short story I wanted to share with you all this morning. The story goes like this:
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and saw that she had only three hairs on her head. "Great," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."
So she did, and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I guess I'll part my hair down the middle today."
So she did, and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only one hair left on her head.
"Wow," she said, "today I get to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did, and she had a wonderful, wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"Thank God!" she exclaimed. "I was running out of things to do with my hair!"
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This was one happy and confident woman. She could have weighed 500 pounds, had three hairs on her head, chin hairs popping out in every direction and she still would have gotten up each morning.... looked in the mirror and said....Man I am one beautiful woman...... and she would have had a great and happy day!
This is what I mean when I say, the character of our inner identity is revealed each time we speak.
Her inner thoughts...the things she was silently saying and thinking about herself...were happy thoughts...loving and encouraging thoughts. And when she spoke you heard the outpouring of that inner dialogue...you heard the character of her inner identity.
Likewise, each time we speak about ourselves or someone else...it reveals more about us than it does them...it puts our inner identity on display for all to see and hear.
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In closing I wanted to share something with you all that I found in my desk when I first arrived here.
As I was setting my office up and getting my desk all organized I went through all the drawers and when I did..... I found a small piece of paper which was buried in the back corner of one of my drawers. On this piece of paper was a short prayer. This prayer must have been buried in that drawer for quite some time....... because the paper was all weathered and discolored.
I loved the prayer on this paper so much that I stuck under the glass that is on top of my desk. So it serves as a visual reminder every time I see it.
The prayer says:
May the lord speak in your words
May the lord think in your thoughts
May the lord work in your deeds
Through you...... may the lord love through your attitudes.
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Today let us leave from here with James words of wisdom...
May we all realize that our words have power...the power to set fire to the whole forest and spread like feathers in the wind. Or they have the power to build up and encourage.
May the thoughts that we form in our minds be positive and uplifting so that every time we speak...the outpouring of our inner identity is pleasing and acceptable.
Peace to you all,
Dana
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LOOKING AGHEAD: A reminder that our Summer Worship schedule begins Sunday, May 29 at 10:00 a.m. and will continue through Sunday, Spetember 4, 2016
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Mission/Outreach News....
Please join us for a luncheon and program on Sunday, May 1, following worship. Ricky Creech, president and CEO of Buckhorn Children & Family Services, will give a presentation on his organization. The committee is planning a mission trip to Buckhorn in the near future. To better plan for the luncheon please call the church office/326-2643.
Buckhorn strives to provide competent, caring treatment, education and advocacy services to Kentucky's most at-risk kids. Their campus communities are dedicated to serving kids and strengthening families as they work to overcome a variety of life crises, including chronic and severe abuse and neglect. Buckhorn is located in the scenic Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky; their residential campuses in Buckhorn and Pine Ridge offer secure, compassionate and therapeutic communities to our kids. At Buckhorn they know that they are some place safe, different and special.
Pentecost Offering
Sunday, May 15, 2016
"We were glad to share not only God's good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much." 1 Thessalonians 2: 8
Since 1998, Presbyterians of all ages have raised more than $11 million for ministries that benefit younger members of God's family. We believe we are called to do even more to support and care for young people to build a strong foundation of faith. They're the future of our church and world.
Each year on Pentecost we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit as a bringer of new life. With the Spirit's coming, we no longer need to settle for business as usual, but can know the transforming, redeeming love of God that makes the impossible possible.
The Pentecost Offering is one of the four Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is about helping young people begin life with a strong start and a solid foundation of faith formed in the first third of life, from childhood through young adulthood. Gifts to the Pentecost Offering unite young people in Christ and inspire them to share their faith, ideas and unique gifts with the church and the world.
Sixty percent of funds will be remitted to the Presbytery of WNY to be distributed through the Presbyterian Mission Agency to support the Young Adult Volunteer program, Ministries with Youth Program and education and advocacy for children at risk through the "Educate a Child: Transform the World" national initiative. The other 40 percent will be designated by our Mission Committee for local youth-focused programs.
Let us thank God for giving us the opportunity to share our gifts generously. Thank you for your support of the Pentecost Offering.
Looking ahead...
The Mission Committee will host a yard sale at the home of Marjory Fritz on the weekend of July 29 and 30 to raise fund for on-going mission causes throughout the year. All parishioners are asked to donate one or two nice items for the sale. Please no electronics, appliances or clothing. (If you have clothing you wish to donate, please consider using the St. Pauly cothing drop-off shed located at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church on East Main Street). If you need assistance getting your item(s) to the church, please contact the church office/326-2643. Items will be accepted beginning mid-July.
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Deanna Scharf has successfully completed another mission trip to Guatemala. In gratitude for our support she will be presenting an overview of her trip on Thursday, May 5, at St. Peter's. In celebration of her mission to a Latin American country, we will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a bilingual service of Evening Prayer led by Pastor Dana and Mother Virginia. We will continue our celebration with a pot luck supper at 6:00 p.m., and Deanna will present her trip with pictures at 7:00 p.m. iTodos son buenvenidos!
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National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 5, 2016
8:00 p.m. in Moore Park
(Inclement weather - Eason Hall)
The 65th annual National Day of Prayer, May 5, 2016, will have profound significance for our country. It is an unprecedented opportunity to see the Lord's healing and renewing power made manifest as we call on citizens to humbly come before His throne.
The theme for 2016 is "Wake Up America" which emphasizes the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to return to the God of Fathers in reverence for His Holy Name. Please join the Westfield Ministerial Association on Thursday, May 5, at 8:00 p.m. in Moore Park.
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"How sweet are thy words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119: 103
Please join us for an Ice Cream Social in the Parlor following worship on Pentecost, May 15. The Fellowship Committee will be serving chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream with toppings of your choice.
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Influenced by and based on ancient Celtic worship as well as its modern survivals in such a worship communities as the famous Iona Community in Scotland, Celtic Vespers is a beautiful service of evening prayer. Featuring responsorial Psalms, prayers from the Carmina Gadelica, a candlelight procession, a brief incense rite, music based on Celtic tunes and even a recitation of The Lord's Prayer in Gaelic. Celtic Vespers will offer a truly unique spiritual service.
Please join us on Thursday, May 19, at 7:00 p.m. ~ and bring your family and friends!
Additionally, if you would like to participate in the service as a reader, a choir member, an instrumentalist, a cantor or an acolyte, please call the church office/326-2643.
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The Fellowship Committee will host a pair-progressive dinner on Saturday, June 4, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will need homes to host the appetizers, the salad and main course. Dessert will be served at the Church. If you are willing to open your home and serve as host and hostess, please call the church office/326-2643
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Time to plan ahead...
For many years, First Presbyterian congregation members have been a part of every Sunday service. They're called liturgists, and, they are strictly volunteers - men and women.
A month before a new list is scheduled, you'll receive your invitation to select a date - or dates - that you would like to be liturgist. That month - May - is coming soon, so go to your calendar and decide which Sunday(s) you would like to be part of the service.
Although it may seem early to select liturgist down-the-road dates, don't hesitate because you think you might not be able to fulfill your Sunday. That's no problem. All you do is call (716) 753-2414 and ask for someone to take your place. Should you have any questions, just call that number or e-mail scoop505@roadrunner.com.
Have a great month
Ann Weidman
P.S. If you've never been a liturgist, don't hesitate to sign up!
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Clerk's Pen(cil) II
Following the call to order by Moderator Rev. Dana A. Vaughn and devotions and prayer by Jamie Scarpine, the Session took up the work of the church on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
Actions taken at the meeting are summarized as follows:
~ Received the Treasurer's report for March 2016 and Deacon report for April 2016.
~ Removed James Stacy and Julia Hall from membership rolls due to death.
~ Approved the wedding of Deborah Towne and William Ellison on May 22.
~ Approved the use of the building by Lake Shore Center for the Arts on Wednesday, May 18; and Marie Edwards and Rachel Coon on Saturday, May 7.
~ Robert Rau & Linda Drake will be received into membership by Reaffirmation of Faith.
~ Approved re-scheduling the May Session meeting to Thursday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m.
~ Approved mailing a final letter to members and friends on the building restoration project from the Property & Finance Committee and Session.
Other Business...
~ On Mother's Day, May 8, carnations will be distributed by the children.
~ Youth Sunday and Teacher Recognition is being planned for May 22. A skit on Sunday Schools lessons learned throughout the year will be performed by the children.
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Prayer Concerns
A special prayer that you'll be blessed with tender care and needed rest, warm thoughts of friends that mean so much and most of all, God's healing touch.
REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR....
Members of Our Congregation
Kay Hall, Gwen Farver, Ruth Stacy, Prudence Putnam, Doc Near, Betty Reid, Enid Beadle, Bev & Les Yeaney, Norma Vanderpool, Don Strobl and Gloria Colgrove.
Family and Friends of our Congregation
Darrell Colgrove, Dee Jensen, Mary Grygier (Sister of Elaine Parker), Mike Strada (Brother of Elaine Parker), Maria Rodriguez (Mother of Ramona Luder), Jeff Greabell, Pauline Emilson, Abigail Jopek, The Pandolph/Peary Families (Friends of John Daily), Pam Goldych (Sister-in-Law of Marie Edwards), Tony Mele.
Our Servicemen.
Capt. Christopher Kittle
Chief Petty Officer, James "JD" Watkins (Grandson of Betty Reid)
SGT2 Arnold Soto (Grandson of Darla Augur)
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Celebration of Eternal Life...
Our deepest sympathy as a congregation is extended to the families and friends upon the death of their loved one:
Vincent "Vinny" Calarco ~ Thursday, April 14, 2016
(Father of Gini Gollnitz)
Julia R. Hall ~ Thursday, April 21, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all who have lost loved ones recently.
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Stewardship Update...
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"
~ Matthew 6: 21 ~
As of this date the number of pledging units we have received is 72, for a total giving of $85,071. It is never too late to pledge or to increase your pledge!
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MARCH 2016 FINANCIAL REPORT
Income: $11,490.24
Expenses: $14,053.06
2016 Pledges Budgeted through March 31, 2016: $22,500.00
($23,434.00 has been paid as of March 31, 2015)
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My Memories of Kind
~ By Mary Ann Buettner ~
April 28, 1963
Upon the ground he
sprawled with ease
And watched the steam
akin with breeze
The daydreams of a child
it took
To form the patterns
of life to look
How sweet, how wondrous
on a glad spring day
As clouds above
did swing and sway
That from my window
God let me gaze
On a small boys face
my eyes did haze
Somewhere, sometime in
memories dear
A thought, a smile
a gentle tear
And then within
my memories kind
The sight of a boy
I'll always find
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BIRTHDAYS
We all join in extending Greetings
and Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday.
May this day be Richly Blessed
With Peace and Joy and
Everything that makes for Happiness
1st
Scott Gross
5th
Mary Ann Buettner
Melanie Ricketts
7th
Tina Neal
9th
Andrew Riforgiato
Jodi Wilson
12th
Will Northrop
Les Yeaney
14th
Ian Beckman
Jim Boyle
Marion Eno
Destinee Rogers
17th
Paul Farver
19th
Terri MacCubbin
Pat Sciarrino
21st
Genny Odell
Lindsay Odell
John Wysard
24th
Sue Gross
25th
Art Webster
27th
Candy Hamilton
29th
Teresa Barton
30th
Julie Travis
ANNIVERSARIES
A special Anniversary Prayer...
That God's Eternal love
Will fill your heart this day
With joy and blessings from above
10th
Brenda & Don Bird
14th
Ramona & David Luder
15th
Polly & Jake Knopp
25th
Nancy & Mark Smith
Sunday, May 1
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 4th Grade ~
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
12:00 Noon
Mission Luncheon
Program by Ricky Creech
CEO/President of Buckhorn Children & Famliy Services
Wednesday, May 4
9:00 a.m.
Worship & Music Meeting
Thursday, May 5
5:30 p.m.
Bilingual service of Evening Prayer
~ St. Peter's ~
6:00 p.m.
Pot Luck Supper
~ St. Peter's ~
7:00 p.m.
Deanna Scharf's presentation of Mission Trip to Guatemala
~ St. Peter's ~
8:00 p.m.
National Day of Prayer
~ Moore Park ~
(inclement weather at Eason Hall)
Friday, May 6
Church Office Closed
Sunday, May 8
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 4th Grade ~
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
Monday, May 9
Church Office Closed
Sunday, May 15
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday Schoo
~ Kindergarten through 4th Grade ~
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
12:00 Noon
Ice Cream Social
~ Hosted by Fellowship Committee ~
Monday, May 16
7:00 p.m.
Deacon Meeting
Wednesday, May 18
10:00 a.m.
Property & Finance Meeting
Thursday, May 19
7:00 p.m.
Celtic Vespers Service
Sunday, May 22
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 4th Grade ~
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
Thursday, May 26
5:00 p.m.
Session Meeting
Friday, May 27
Church Office Closed
Sunday, May 29
9:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
9:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Family Worship
Monday, May 30
~ Memorial Day ~
Church Office Closed
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Dear Lord,
lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.
Bless those whose dear ones have died.
We remember with compassion and
heartfelt thanks, those who
have died serving their country.
Amen.
